New Caledonian Veneridae р 
Pitar (Рйагіпа) nancyae Lamprell and Whitehead, 1990 
(Figure 6a-b) 
E (Pitarina) папсуае Lamprell and Whitehead, 1990: 45; fig.3e-h: Lamprell and Whitehead, 
92: sp.526. 
Diagnosis: Shell thin, length to 30 mm; similar (о affinis but with a thinner shell, more elongate 
Profile and darker colour markings. Colour white, with wide, broken rays of brown; lunule and 
escutcheon sparsely marked with brown zigzag pattern; umbones purple tipped; interior white, with 
à small, livid purple spot inside the umbones. 
Material examined: Plateau Chesterfield-Bellona: (Chalcal 1: stn D56, Іру, 60 m). Bancs 
Lansdowne-Fairway (Chalcal 1: stn СРІ, Пу). Nouvelle-Caledonie: Grand Recif Sud (Lagon: stn 
548, Іру, 33 m); Lagon Nord (Lagon: stn 542, Irv); Secteur de Thio (Lagon: stn 668, 2pv, Irv, 40 
т); Secteur de Canala (Lagon: stn 702, 2pv, 37 m); Secteur de Poindimie (Lagon: stn 787, Іру, 39 
m; stn 836, Іру, 57 m); Secteur de Pouebo (Lagon: stn 902, Іру, 32 m). 
Remarks: Previously recorded from the coasts of central to north Queensland, these records of Pitar 
папсуае represent a significant range extension. The species usually occurs in depths ranging from 
20-30 m, however the specimens collected from this expedition ranged from 33-60 m. 
Pitar (Pitarina) sophiae (Angas, 1877) 
(Figure 6c-d) 
Cytherea sophiae Angas, 1877: 176, pl.26, f.23. 
Pitar (Pitarina) sophiae (Angas); Lamprell and Whitehead, 1992: sp.531. 
Diagnosis: Shell thin, inflated, length to 17 mm. Sculpture of concentric growth lines, smooth, 
glossy. Colour white, with grey concentric bands, sometimes with faint brown broken rays; umbones 
usually tinged with red anteriorly, visible internally. 
Material examined: Bancs Lansdowne-Fairway: (Corail 2: stn DW19, Irv). Nouvelle-Caledonie: 
Secteur de Noumea (Lagon: stn 13, Іру, 20 m); Ile Ouen-Baie du Prony (Lagon: stn 133, Іру, 59-62 
m; stn 146, Іру, 40-52 m; stn 234, 5ру, ПУ, 56 m; stn 238, Пу); Grand Recif Sud (Lagon: stn 429, 
2rv); Secteur de Yate (Lagon: stn 606, 2pv, ПУ, 48 m; stn 608, Irv; stn 621, Irv); Secteur de Thio 
(Lagon: stn 650, 1lv; stn 676, Ipv, 41 m; stn 692, 2ру, 48 m); Secteur de Canala (Lagon: stn 696, 
Irv; stn 716, Irv; stn 726, Іру, 51 m; stn 729, Ipv, Пу, 45 m; stn 759, Irv); Secteur de Poindimie 
(Lagon: stn 771, Іру, 34 m; stn 780, Irv; stn 801, Іру, 29 m; stn 821, 21у; stn 830, 21у, 8rv; stn 835, 
Irv); Grand Recif Mengalia (Lagon: stn 847, 2pv, 28 m; stn 865, Irv). 
Remarks: Smith (1885) considered Pitar sophiae to be a synonym of Cytherea hebraea Lamarck, 
1818. However comparison of specimens of P. sophiae in the Australian Museum and the type of P. 
hebraea in the Museum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Geneve shows that P. sophiae is longer in 
Proportion to height than P. hebraea, is more widely rounded at the anterior and posterior margins, 
does not attain the size of P. hebraea, has a pink flush on the inner side of the valves of many 
Specimens and has a different colour pattern. Additionally, the pallial sinus in P. hebraea is wider, 
deeper and less ascending than in P. sophiae. 
Pitar (Pitarina) potteri Healy and Lamprell, 1992 
(Figure 6e-f) 
Pitay (Pitarina) potteri Healy and Lamprell, 1992: 79; fig.le-h; Lamprell and Whitehead, 1992: 
8р.515 (as Pitar sp.) 
